An innocent interruption, Qui-Gon thought. But perhaps not. He thought carefully about the young man's appearance. He wore the navy tunic of an aide, but…

His boots. They were the boots that the security officers wore. He was doing a check of the rooms. And he could have recognized Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon withdrew his lightsaber in one quick motion. He would have to contact Eritha later. He cut a neat hole in the glass and stepped through onto the ledge. Using his cable launcher, he lowered himself down to the pavement behind the wall.

"There he is!" Chips from the wall flew as blaster fire hit on either side of him. Qui-Gon looked up. Two security officers aimed their blasters at him.

"Don't move!" one of them shouted.

Qui-Gon ran. He deflected the blaster fire as he zigzagged down the short passageway between the wall and the Legislative building. Then he leaped to the top of the wall and jumped over.

Pedestrians scattered as he landed. They looked at him curiously, but he matched his stride to theirs and continued walking. He increased his pace as they lost interest and turned down a side street. He weaved through the blocks surrounding the Legislature, finding a deserted alley to shed his overcloak and cap. No doubt a complete description of him was now updated on every security officer's data-pad. He would blend in better in his traveler's cloak.

Qui-Gon caught a repulsorlift airbus and stayed on it until the end of the line. He resolved to go back and find Eritha under cover of darkness.

Balog had always been one step ahead of him. This time, he resolved that he would be first.

Chapter 11

The holotape of Tahl as an Absolute had hurt the Jedi. Qui-Gon's arrest warrant made it worse. Mace ran into roadblocks whenever he tried to gather information. The support of Manex was no longer enough.

Obi-Wan saw the frustration tighten Mace's features. He knew that Mace was deeply concerned that Qui-Gon had not surfaced to clear his name.

He, too, wondered what his Master was thinking. In rare moments of rest, he reached out with the Force, trying desperately to connect. At times he thought he could feel Qui-Gon, but it was not a strong, clear sensation. It was murky and gray. He knew his effort to reach his Master through the Force would not work. They would not connect. There was too much unresolved emotion swirling around Qui-Gon, too much he was trying to hide.

"You need rest," Mace said at the end of a long, fruitless day. "Both of you."

But neither Bant nor Obi-Wan wanted to retire to their quarters. They sat in Manex's private sitting room. Since Manex's favorite color was green and he believed in indulging himself, every cushion, every seating area, was a different shade of the color. The floors were of highly polished black stone. Obi-Wan felt almost dizzy sitting in the center of all that bright color, but Manex had insisted on giving the Jedi his favorite room, and they felt they could not refuse.

Manex returned from the Legislature only a few moments after the Jedi had. He rushed into the room, his curls waving, looking agitated.

"Qui-Gon was spotted at the Legislature. There was a blaster battle."

Obi-Wan felt a silent cry of protest rise inside him. He couldn't bear it if something happened to Qui-Gon now. His body went instantly cold.

Bent moved closer to him, her shoulder touching his.

Mace stood. "What happened?"

"He escaped, of course."

Obi-Wan let out a long breath. Qui-Gon was safe. He felt Bant relax a fraction, and she gave Obi-Wan a look of pure relief.

Manex mopped his brow with a pale gold handkerchief. "What a day. I must tell you that there is a movement afoot to draft me for the elections.

It is not a job that I seek. But I am thinking about it. Maybe it is time I got involved. I used to think my brother was the hero, the public servant.

I used to say I was only here to make money." Manex shoved the handkerchief in his pocket. "Maybe I became the way I am because my brother was so noble. Now I am no longer sure what my role is. Maybe the time to abandon my principle of self-protection is here."

"What about Alani?" Obi-Wan asked. "Would it be hard for you to oppose her?" Manex did not know of Alani's tie to the Absolutes. He professed affection for the twins.

Manex hesitated. "I have to think of what is best for New Apsolon,"

he said. "And I've realized one thing. We cannot form a solid government — whether with me or another leader — if we do not expose Balog and the Absolutes. I have a plan."

Obi-Wan tried not to look dubious. He couldn't imagine what sort of plan Manex would devise.

"I will act as a decoy," he declared. "I'll let it be known that the list of secret informers has come into my possession."

Mace shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous. You realize what happened to the last two beings who claimed this?"

"They are dead. Yes, I realize this very well." Manex clasped his hands together. "I'm trying not to think about it. And, actually, you can't say no, because I've already spread the rumor."

Obi-Wan saw how Bant watched the faces of the two men. She usually did not speak in meetings, but she was the most intent listener he'd ever seen. He could learn from her stillness, he suddenly thought.

"This may not be wise," Mace said, frowning.

"You're telling me," Manex snorted. "I'm hardly a courageous man. But I'm hoping that with Jedi protection, I'll be all right. If we can get Balog to expose himself, we can catch him. Don't you want to clear Qui- Gon's name?"

"Of course. But it is not clear if this is the way to do it," Mace said.

"It is the only way," Manex insisted. "You know it is."

Obi-Wan's gaze went from Manex to Mace. Of course he knew that Mace had to agree to protect Manex. It had been a foolish move on Manex's part, but no one wanted Obi-Wan's opinion. Now they would have to baby-sit Manex in the hope that Balog would show up. Was that what Manex wanted? Did he want to tie up the Jedi's time until he could consolidate power? Perhaps he was in league with Balog.

Obi-Wan reminded himself that Qui-Gon had trusted Manex. He had gently pointed out that just because a man enjoyed his wealth did not make him a man of bad character. Qui-Gon had seen something likeable in Manex's happy pursuit of his own pleasures.

"All right, we'll protect you," Mace said. "But we will form the plan."

The lights were still powered down in the house, as a house of mourning. Manex sat at a table in his garden, nervously fiddling with a cup of "the finest juice on New Apsolon — can I fetch the Jedi some glasses?"